News Release Archive

PREMIER--TEAM CANADA MISSION A SUCCESS
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The Team Canada trade mission to southeast Asia has opened
the door to future trade and investment possibilities in
Nova Scotia, Premier John Savage said today.
The premier has just returned to the province from a trade
mission sponsored by Prime Minister Jean Chretien. Premier
Savage and six other premiers, along with a large delegation
of business representatives, promoted trade opportunities
during stops in India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
"For a small province like Nova Scotia, this was really an
eye-opening experience. Up until now we have done very
little to promote trade with southeast Asia. This trade
mission has established many, many contacts that can be
followed up by the private sector."
Premier Savage said it is too soon to measure exactly what
the mission means to Nova Scotia in dollars and cents.
"It may take years before the full impact of the trade
mission can be fully realized. However, there is little
doubt that trade and investment possibilities have been
greatly accelerated as a result of the trip."
Premier Savage noted that a number of contracts or
agreements involving Nova Scotia companies were signed
during the trade mission. Other signings are in the works.
A Nova Scotia company, Melville Holdings, signed a $6
million deal to build a dairy in India. Survival Systems, of
Dartmouth, signed contracts or memorandums of understanding
in Indonesia and Malaysia. Sydney Steel has an agreement to
sell rails to Indonesia, and is working on a tender for even
a larger order.
Three universities, Saint Mary's, Technical University of
Nova Scotia, and Dalhousie, took part in the trade mission
in a bid to attract international students to Nova Scotia.
Premier Savage said future economic growth in Nova Scotia
will depend on the province's ability to attract investment
and open up trade links with the rest of the world.
"We cannot wait for the world to come knocking on our door.
In order to be successful we must aggressively pursue new
markets.
The responsibility of government is to make the initial
contacts and open the door for follow-up by the private
sector."
The premier said he intends to actively pursue additional
trading possibilities for Nova Scotians at every
opportunity.
"The bottom line is jobs for Nova Scotians. By tapping into
global markets we will be able to create new job
opportunities in every sector of our economy, from our
traditional resource industries to manufacturing."
Premier Savage said in terms of the possible long-term
benefits of the Southeast Asia mission, the trip was "an
unqualified success." Time will tell what all that means in
terms of dollars and cents, the premier said.
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EDITORS NOTE: There is an accent aigu on the first "e" in
Chretien.
Contact: David Harrigan 902-424-6600
trp Jan. 22, 1996 - 10:12 a.m.